Danger of heat increases: 22 deaths and 1,400 hospital cases every year!

Danger of heat increases: 22 deaths and 1,400 hospital cases every year!

In summer the temperatures often seem to reach the highest level, and this not only has an impact on nature. How radiobielefeld.de reports, the health of Germans is particularly challenged on hot days. The period from 2003 to 2023 shows that around 1,400 people have to be treated in clinics every year due to heat injuries. These include serious problems such as heatstroke and sunstroke.

However, in 2023 the number of heat-related inpatient treatments fell to just over 800, which is below the long-term average. This could be a positive development, but it must also be seen in the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has led to changes in the healthcare system in recent years. Increased public awareness of the dangers of heat may also have contributed to the lower number of hospital stays, such as rnd.de supplemented.

Heat and its consequences

The health risks increase with temperatures, and particularly vulnerable groups such as older people, pregnant women and children are at risk. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) warns that an increase in heat-related illnesses and even deaths is to be expected due to advancing climate change. On average, over the last two decades, around 22 people have died each year as a result of heat, without taking heat strokes or skin cancer into account.

In 2023, heat-related deaths reached 37, a drastic increase compared to previous years. The impact of extreme temperatures is particularly noticeable on people with previous illnesses. During hot waves, not only the number of hospital treatments increases, but also the number of deaths. Data from 2003, 2015 and 2018 demonstrate this clarity of knowledge, in each of which there were tens of thousands of cases.

Recognize the danger and act

So the question remains: How can we protect ourselves better? The RKI emphasizes the need for effective heat protection and reliable monitoring. Responsibility for this requires the cooperation of various institutions such as the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Center for Health Education and the Federal Environment Agency. The exchange between these organizations is essential in order to develop strategies for heat prevention and to react to developments in the coming years.

Given the heat that will hit us even harder in this country and across Europe, it is even more important to be informed about the risks and to take appropriate measures. So stay mindful and take good care of yourself – especially on these hot days!